All posts by Pol Pinoy

Government, Immigration, International, Politics, Race Relations, Tourism, Travel

EU Ends Visa-Free Travel For Americans; Philippines To End Visa-Free Travel For EU Citizens

May 23, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

It comes after the US failed to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.

The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, lawmakers are set to vote for the revocation of the visa waiver for citizens of the European Union traveling to the island nation. This, after the EU Parliament passed two resolutions that interferes with the internal affairs of the Philippines.

Filipino Senators and Congressmen declared EU as ‘persona non grata’ after it called for the investigation of the alleged extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs and demanding the immediate release of incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima who has been charged with drug-related crimes.

Under current Philippine immigration law, citizens of EU countries can visit the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa.

If the new law is passed, EU citizens will be forced to never leave home without a visa (in addition to American Express and MasterCard) when traveling to the Philippines 🇵🇭.

International, Military, Race Relations, Social Media, Technology

How Filipinos Can Avert War With China

May 22, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: New York Times)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The news media have been focusing on China’s supposed threat to go to war with the Philippines should the latter pursue its claim over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

By sheer number, the Philippines is no match to China’s military power. China has seven times the number of Filipino military personnel, not to mention the Chinese great advantage in as far as equipment like tanks, fighter aircraft, warships and submarines are concerned.

But Filipinos have an advantage over China 🇨🇳 when it comes to keyboard warriors.

It is estimated that almost half of the Philippine population is on Facebook, not to mention other social media accounts.

Here’s how Filipinos can avert a possible war with China:

Each of the 50 million or so Filipino Facebook account holders should send a minimum of 26 friend requests to the Chinese. That would amount to a total of 1.3 Billion (the estimated population of China) Chinese friends.
If China decides to go to war with the Philippines, no Chinese would support it, not even its military since they all would have Facebook friends in the Philippines 🇵🇭.

Problem solved.

Long live the Filipino keyboard 🎹 warriors! Long live world peace!

(Well, if all else fails, Darna will come to the rescue):

Government, Law Enforcement

Billboards Considered Greatest Driver Distractions, Especially Those Featuring Kris Aquino

May 22, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Lawmakers are considering suspending the implementation of the new Anti Driving Distraction Law which prohibits the use of mobile devices or the car window display of trinkets, including rosaries, that could impair the road view of motorists.

After receiving public feedback on the new law, Congress members now realize that the greater distraction for motorists are the advertising billboards that line the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila and other urban cities.

Motorists have complained that the biggest distraction are the billboards, especially those that feature Kris Aquino.

“Seeing Kris on the billboards just triggers the rise in my blood pressure,” said one jeepney driver.

Lawmakers realize that it will take some time before all billboards can be taken down, so they agreed on starting with those that feature the retired talk show host and former presidential sister.

“We’ve got to start somewhere,” Senator Tito Sotto told The Adobo Chronicles.